Camouflage and method of making



, Si". C ZLAIR HALE CAMOUFLAGE AND METHOD OF MfiKING Filed June 17, 1943 INVENTOR.

I V \fii'zaz r-fif/faze BY v Patented Dec. 5,, 1944 f ulvi'rso STATE metres PATENT OFFICE CAMOUFLAGE AND METHOD OF MAKING,

E St. Clair M. Hale, Detroit, Mich, assignor to l Parker-Wolverine Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation Application June 17, 1943, Serial No. 491,156

6 Claims. (01. 117-337) The invention relates to the art of camouflaging and it has particular relation to an improved mesh character. The camouflaging material aptype of camouflage and process of making the .same.

Particularly in wartime, it is important that certain locations be covered by overhead camouflage for the purpose of concealing objects or for the purpose of so disguising the terrain as to confuse or disguise aerial observation. At the a poses which will have such light reflectivity charplied to this netting comprises a fibrous and paint mixture H which, when solidified, becomes firmly attached to the wires. The fibrous material may comprise asbestomfiber, shortstapleacottonfiber, ,or-other,i;nilar fiber, "sea in the structure shown in Figure Z Itl'iefib'rs mainly extend in parallel relation. Also, the fibers principally may be looped or folded about the cross wires so that the end. portions of v the fibers may extend transversely to the mesh openings with the fibers mainly extending in the same direction from the .wires to which they are attached. By having the fibers impregnated with paint and applying the mixture in fluid form, solidification effects firm adhesion of the fibers together and to the tenal pfilblally OI even 80111171131161} (210865 the mesh acteristics as to more or less negative results obtained photographically by enemy aerial observers. I Another object of the invention is to provide an article of this character which may be manufactured very inexpensively, which is practically weatherproof, and which may be installed or anplied rapidly.

Another object of the invention is to provide. an improved method of making an article for camouflaging purposes out of wire netting, or fencing, wherein camoufiaging material is applied to the wires in an efficient and rapid manner. 1

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, the drawing relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the-invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying draw ing, wherein:

Figure l is a more or less diagrammatic view illustrating apparatus which may be employed in the manufacture of camouflaging articles according to one form of the invention;

ciently thick so as to obtain the desired depositnetting so that as a final result the fibrous maopenings and is fairly rigid in character.

Preferably, where a paint of green color is used, the paint will contain a pigment having substantially the same index of infra-red light refiectivity asais found in chlorophyll. By having an agitator i4.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating an article for camouflaging purposes as constructed according to one form of the invention.

Referring to Figure 2, the camoufiaging article comprises a wire netting or fencing indicated at l0 and while the netting shown may be. on the? order of so-called chicken wire or fencing, it will}, be understood that other forms of netting or fencing may be employed as long as it is of openthis light reflection characteristic, photographs of any territory covered by camouflaging netting of the type described will show on the photographic plate in aboutthe same manner as green landscaping, green fields, Woods or the like.

In manufacturing the article, a container l3 may be provided as seen in Figure l and the paint and fibers are deposited in this container and thoroughly mixed by any suitable means such as The. quantity of fibers in the paintfmay'vaiy, but the mixture will be sufiiing of fibers on the wire. A coil of wire netting or fencing is indicated at l5 and this netting is conducted over suitable rollers [6, I1, and 18 located in the tank. At the discharge side of the tank, the netting passes between apair of squeeze rollers 20 and 2! constructed of rubber or other suitable material which squeeze out surplus paint and at the same time press the fibers together and into the plane of the Wire.

During movement of the netting through the mixture, the latter is maintained in an agitated condition and the cross wires pick up or catch paint impregnated fibers; Altogether, as the wire drags through the mixture, substantial quantities of paint/laden fibers catch on the wire and depend therefrom, and as the wire moves between the squeeze rollers 20 and 2i, the fibers are pressed into the mesh openings mainly at the lag side of squeezing action is sufliclent to bring the fibers into 'close, adhering relation and after they pass .7

between the rollers, the attachment of fibers to one another and to the various wires by means of the paint holds them substantially in the plane of the netting. After passing between the squeeze rollers, the nettingpasses between drying appara-v tus such as the infra-red lights 22 and 23 where the paint is substantially dried. The product then comprises a dried mass of paint impregnated fibers disposed transversely to the wires,

eaaeateae v r which comprises quilting paint and loose fibrous material in a container, passing netting through themixture so that, the" strands of the netting become coated with paint and so that paintimpregnated fibers become caught or suspended on the cross strands as the latter advance through and held together by the wires and by the paint binder.

Although only one form of the invention'has been described and illustrated in detail, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. v I

What is claimed is:

1. The process of manufacturing camouflage which comprises mixing'liquid paint and loose fibrous material, passing an open-mesh netting through the mixture so that the strands of the netting become coated with paint and collect substantial quantities of the paint covered fibers,

and easer; -ihe T'The pr 'ess of manufacturing camouflage which comprises applying paint and loose fibrous material to an open-mesh netting so that paintimpregnated fibers collect on the strands of the netting, passing the netting screenwbetween squeezerollerssoas toremove surplus paint and to press the fibers and netting into substantially the same plane, and then drying the netting- 3. The process of manufacturing camouflage the mixture, then passing the netting between squeezing elements-to--remove surplus paint and to move the suspended fibers into the mesh open: ings and substantially into the plane of the netting, and then drying the netting with the fibers in such position. i

4. The process of manufacturing camouflage which-comprises mixing paint and loose fibrous materials, passing open-mesh woven wire netting through the mixture so that paint-impregnated fibers'collect or become suspended on the wires,

then passing the netting-between squeezing ele- I ments to remove surplus paint and to substantially dispose the fibers in the plane of the netting, and then drying the netting. 5. A camouflage article comprising an open mesh netting having paint-impregnated fibers looped around strands of the netting with the fibers generally extending in the same direction transversely to the mesh'openings and in substantially the plane of the netting, the paint as solidified serving to hold the fibers in position.

6.- A' camouflaging article comprising an open- 

